Shola’s aggregated keynote feedback scores as of January 2026:
KEYNOTE DESCRIPTIONS
From company-wide keynotes, to leadership training, to small-group strategic action sessions, Shola’s programmes are customised, relevant, and actionable. She’ll sit with you, taking the time to discover the nuances of your organisation, ensuring that your speech feels tailor-made for your audience.
Shola has a global client base. She’s culturally sensitive, understanding that different audiences respond better to different examples, analogies, and stories.
Her programmes are super-engaging and highly interactive, as Shola loves involving her audiences through polls, Q&As, and chats. She likes to call her speeches ‘conversations’ and, because of the high levels of customisation and interplay, no two sessions are identical.
Expect inspiration, interaction, and insight!
Emotional Audacity™: Developing the Human Edge in an Age of Tech-Driven Transformation
How do we inspire people to say what others won’t and do what others fear — while staying open-hearted, respectful and deeply human?
Shola Kaye introduces Emotional Audacity™ — the essential leadership mindset for today’s fast-paced, high-stakes world. As organisations move more swiftly and rely increasingly on data and systems, it’s the human elements — empathy, self-awareness, self-regulation, courageous communication, and motivation to act — that determine the success or failure of transformation efforts.
With insight, warmth, and a deeply practical approach, Shola shares frameworks for honest self-reflection and developing both resilience and dynamism through emotionally intelligent behaviour. Drawing on her corporate background, current research, and her work with global brands, Shola offers audiences the tools to listen without defensiveness and to act with an expansive sense of purpose.
For a goosebumps-inducing, arresting and engaging opening, Shola can include optional musical elements. Let us know at the time of booking. Available for onsite keynotes only.
The audience will leave with:
- The Caring & Daring Matrix™ and the Feel, Filter, Follow Through™ framework to support dynamic, considered decision-making
- Clear strategies to listen deeply, share openly and act decisively
- Structured self-reflection opportunities to support ongoing growth and development
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A downloadable PDF companion guide for applying the frameworks in everyday leadership and communication scenarios
Keynote or workshop.
‘Hear her out as she can make complex things simple and still hit the outcome.’ HSBC
Develop a Psychologically Safe, Speak-Up Culture: How to Feel Seen, Safe and Heard
What are the core behaviours and communication strategies that create a psychologically safe, high-performing workplace?
In a culture where people feel seen, safe and heard, innovation thrives, belonging deepens, and collaboration strengthens.
Through powerful storytelling, live exercises, and practical tools, Shola unpacks the role of compassion, deep inquiry, and psychological safety to create environments of cooperation and creativity. Participants learn to foster a workplace free of groupthink where individuals can make their best contributions and the business can thrive.
The audience will leave with:
- Practical communication scripts and conversation starters to support transparency and authentic dialogue
- Step-by-step frameworks to encourage open conversations across all levels of the organisation
- Insights into how fear and lack of safety hinder innovation — and how to change that dynamic
- Tools to embed positive reinforcement, resilience, and safety into team communication
- Structured self-reflection prompts and a downloadable PDF guide to help sustain learning and progress
60 min keynote or longer workshop.
‘Brilliant session, practical and realistic with great tips and techniques to inspire and help cultivate careers and teams.’ Allianz
Elevate Empathy: Sustainable, Common-sense Strategies for Creating a Workplace of Care and Understanding
How can organisations embed empathy at every level — from the boardroom to the break room?
As the need for respectful, supportive workplaces grows, empathy is no longer a ‘nice to have’ — it’s a critical leadership and communication skill that directly impacts retention, innovation, and employee wellbeing.
Through storytelling, accessible research, and hands-on reflection, Shola introduces a practical approach to empathy that avoids burnout, fosters connection, and works across virtual, hybrid and in-person teams. With a focus on curiosity, courage and being a catalyst, this session equips every audience member with the awareness and confidence to make empathy a daily practice.
For an unforgettable, emotion-inducing introduction, Shola can include optional musical elements. Let us know at the time of booking. Available for onsite keynotes only.
The audience will leave with:
- A simple, actionable three-step framework for demonstrating empathy in daily conversations
- Strategies for showing virtual empathy in hybrid and remote environments
- A variety of easy-to-use tools that support practical empathy
- Data and case studies to support the business case for empathy in the workplace
- Structured self-reflection activities and a downloadable PDF guide to build stronger listening skills and deeper human connection
Keynote or workshop.
‘An incredible keynote speech. The topic of Empathy really spoke to our workforce.’ Reckitt
You need a speaker…
who will engage and inspire your audience, whether that’s thousands of people at a virtual event or a senior leadership team of ten.
Shola’s messages are relatable, actionable and evidence-based. She speaks on Communication, Empathy and Brave Decision-Making for people-first cultures. The end result is more empathic, engaged, and productive workplaces with compassionate leadership and happier teams. Which tends to lead to lower turnover, higher performance and greater profitability!
Shola’s experience working for corporations in the USA and Europe led to an understanding of some of the challenges faced by organisations on multiple levels.
Typical events include global company keynotes, leadership development sessions, and industry conferences.
An author and communications and empathy specialist, award-winning international keynote speaker and author, Shola spent time in academic research at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) followed by several years in IT consultancy and later returned to the U.K, working as an account director for global clients in aviation and finance.
Today, she blends her background in the STEM, financial and creative industries to share clear, effective communication and decision-making frameworks with insights that help people work better together. These are delivered in a high-impact, engaging style.
Invest in a transformational event
Shola is trusted by:
